3rd adjustment-bigger wire!

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#1 Post by **ema27** » Tue May 08, 2007 8:00 am

okay just had my 3rd adjustment and today they have put a thicker wire in -looks like it stands out a mile!Why the thicker wire ?
Ortho seems pleased with my progress and says ill be getting lowers probably the time after next.
Always nice to know that the ortho thinks things are going well-isnt it?

#2 Post by **DanceDiva** » Tue May 08, 2007 8:09 am

I wear rubberbands and I know they couldn't put the rubberbands on until I had stronger wires. I think the stronger wires just allow them to move/adjust your teeth more. Stronger wire = stronger grip for moving

#3 Post by **Lisa65** » Tue May 08, 2007 9:35 am

Ema, there's a link here that explains why different wires are used at different stages in the treatment.

http://www.unc.edu/depts/appl_sci/ortho ... t/one.html

In general, thin wires which are round in cross-section and often heat-activated, are used initially to get the teeth moving. Once the teeth are aligned, thicker and stiffer wires are used, which are often square or rectangular (you might hear your ortho talk about a 16x25 which are the dimensions of the square wire in thousandths of an inch). These square wires allow controlled torquing forces to be used to level and upright the teeth.

Glad all is going well!

#4 Post by **ema27** » Tue May 08, 2007 10:11 am

thanks lisa for the link-i knew there must have been a reason and not just because the ortho took a dis like to me today!LOL!
Heres hoping that my teeth start to move a little quicker now this fatter wire is in-!

#5 Post by **PfectPitch** » Tue May 08, 2007 1:25 pm

I'm getting a thicker wire next week. Should I stock up on Ensure, or is it not too bad??

#6 Post by **platinum** » Tue May 08, 2007 2:13 pm

I got my square wire on my second adjustment. I did see a lot of movement with round and thin wires. Now I cant see anything and my teeth are not sore anymore.

For me the round wires were worse than square one...

#7 Post by **ema27** » Wed May 09, 2007 1:32 am

PfectPitch wrote:I'm getting a thicker wire next week. Should I stock up on Ensure, or is it not too bad??

yes is it that bad!Honestly i once read somewhere that it was like being hit in the mouth with a baseball bat well my god they werent lying! Last night the pain was intense and this morning i cant eat any thing other than sloppy food!.I half expected to wake up in the morning with amazingly straight teeth considered the amount of pressure i could feel!-but alas that wasnt the case!!
The good thing is it looks less noticeable to me again-it must have been the intial shock!

#8 Post by **Miss Smiley** » Wed May 09, 2007 1:47 am

I started with a rectangular wire, maybe that's why my teeth are still sore after 1 month.

Then again, I don't mind because I see tons of movement and odd little spaces opening up where before, it was difficult to get floss in without shredding it.

#9 Post by **Lisa65** » Wed May 09, 2007 4:53 am

I must admit that when I first got a square wire on the lowers, I had to stop eating solids for a couple of days. I couldn't even bite into a banana so soup was on the menu.

If you're in a lot of discomfort then ibuprofen works quite well. Taking some 1/2 hour or so before eating can make mealtimes a lot less uncomfortable.

It should feel better in a couple of days.

#10 Post by **acehigh** » Wed May 09, 2007 6:44 am

I will be going for my third adjustment in June. I have also progressed to the rectangular wires, the bottom one being stainless steel. Lisa65, thanks for the link informing us about different strengths of wires....very interesting!

#11 Post by **SinOnYourLips** » Wed May 09, 2007 7:02 am

Aha! I see now. My first month I had the white wire, that matched my clear brackets...then at my first adjustment, I got a thicker, metal wire put in. Now this friday is my adjustment #2, and I guess I might be getting the even thicker one, plus they promised me a spiral wire (I think that's what it's called) to create more room for a tooth. Oy...I really need to preparae myself.

ps. Yes, thanks Lisa, for the link!